Cervical spondylosis, another term for neck arthritis or cervical osteoarthritis is a very common degenerative condition caused by the abrasion or the wear and tear of bones and cartilages affecting the spinal disks in the neck. Mild to severe neck pains due to arthritis are caused by the deterioration of the thick, cushion-like disc between every bone of your spine which absorbs various shock intensities from twisting, lifting, or other activities. This occurs when the gel-like substance inside these discs start to dry out, causing your spinal vertebrae to rub against each other more often than it is normally intended. It usually starts at the age of 30 and gets worse as you grow older. In fact, 90 percent of people aged 60 and above have cervical spondylosis, giving them neck pains and stiffness.

In most cases, cervical spondylosis poses no symptoms. But if one or more symptoms occur, it typically gives you neck pains and stiffness. Here are the other symptoms you can look for:

Since this is an age-related condition, everyone is not safe from having arthritis of the neck. Specially those who had past neck injuries, family members who have the condition which can be passed down through genes, and people who smoke are more at risk of cervical spondylosis.

As spine-chilling as the term sounds, non-operative neck pain treatments are predominantly effective and can actually cure it. You can use hot or cold compress to relieve sore muscles or an assistance of a therapist who will guide you for proper stretching techniques to strengthen neck muscles. Other cervical spondylosis treatments include Ayurvedic therapies like Abhyangam, Podikzhi, Pizhichil, and Nasyam that use natural oils and herbs that can save someone’s neck.